The Future of Veteran Mental Health Care

How Wounded Warrior Project is Shaping Innovative Solutions and Enhanced Care

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have emerged as signature wounds of America's longest war, affecting thousands of post-9/11 veterans. As this population ages, experts say their care needs are becoming increasingly complex.

John Eaton, vice president for Complex Care at Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), is dedicated to spearheading initiatives that reimagine how veterans receive mental health support.

In a wide-ranging interview, Eaton outlined WWP's strategic vision for transforming veteran care through innovative partnerships and emerging technologies. The organization's latest initiatives include virtual reality therapy programs, AI-powered support systems, and streamlined access to mental health resources.

What Is the Current State of Veteran Mental Health?

Mental health and wellness are a daily battle for many people, veterans included.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety affect millions of veterans, making mental health one of the most pressing issues in the veteran community. WWP serves a subset of the veteran population, and based on our most recent Warrior Survey,* 76% of WWP warriors live with PTSD. About the same number live with anxiety and depression. Approximately 56% reported living with a traumatic brain injury. These conditions can lead to loneliness, substance use, and a diminished quality of life.

Although the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs recognize the importance of mental health care for our military service personnel and veterans, access to care and the stigma of seeking care remain significant challenges. Veterans often encounter barriers like inconsistent wait times, which can vary across the country. Warriors living in rural or remote areas face more limited resources. Many may also remain hesitant to seek care, partly due to the stigma surrounding mental health. As a result, veterans often struggle for years in silence.

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, it takes an average of 11 years from the onset of symptoms for a person to access mental health services. This delay can worsen conditions and lead to other downstream issues, including relationship challenges, unemployment, increased substance use, and even suicide.

These issues underscore the need for innovative approaches to proactively address risk factors, prioritize timeliness and accessibility, and deliver individualized care.

What Is WWP's Vision for the Future of Veteran Mental Health?

WWP has a bold vision: a world where every veteran can access the mental health care they need anytime, anywhere. It's a future where care is not just easily accessible but comprehensive and deeply personalized.

To achieve this, WWP is embracing innovative technology, fostering collaboration with leading academic medical centers and other veterans organizations, and championing policy reform for veterans.

How Is Technology Enhancing Support for Veteran Mental Health?

Telehealth is one of the most promising advancements in mental health care, and WWP is at the forefront of integrating this technology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth skyrocketed, and the trend continues today.

Telehealth offers a way to connect to care no matter where someone lives. It breaks down barriers like long travel times and inflexible schedules. For veterans in rural areas or those juggling family and work commitments, it can be a lifeline to access support via phone or computer.

WWP recognizes the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance care and is committed to funding its use in programs. AI-driven tools can assist in early diagnosis by looking at speech, behavior, and other data patterns. These tools provide clinicians with valuable insights to help identify at-risk individuals and intervene before symptoms escalate. AI can also analyze the effectiveness of certain treatments so health professionals can determine earlier whether a warrior may need additional services to achieve the best results.

Given the initial findings, WWP is expanding its investment to integrate AI into programs and elevate the services provided to warriors.

For instance, as part of the Warrior Care Network® program, there is an academic medical center using AI to help identify the type of treatment each warrior needs to be most successful in their healing journey. Additional data collected during the course of the warrior's treatment is then evaluated to determine if other support or complementary care is needed. .

Looking ahead, AI tools that can alert warriors to changes in sleep patterns or withdrawal from social activities will be valuable in helping them seek support earlier.

Another exciting area is virtual reality (VR), which emerged as a groundbreaking tool for treating PTSD a few years ago. Using a VR headset, veterans enter a virtual domain to confront past experiences in a safe and controlled environment. This technology offers veterans a new way to heal from traumatic memories and is leading to long-lasting improvements.

What Is Precision Care – and How Is it Changing the Delivery of Care for Veterans?

No two veterans experience mental health challenges the same, which is why WWP is advocating for precision care. Precision care essentially means meeting veterans where they are. It's not just about diagnosing a condition — it's about understanding the individual's experiences, preferences, and goals and then connecting them to the right treatment.

WWP's Warrior Care Network partners with leading academic medical centers to implement this type of approach in an outpatient setting. By mixing clinical therapy with activities like yoga or art therapy, Warrior Care Network provides personalized care to each warrior that addresses different aspects of their recovery. By looking at the whole warrior, their challenges, their experiences, and their desires, we can create a well-rounded, one-of-a-kind path to healing.

How Is WWP Redefining Access to Care?

Veterans report challenges in accessing care when they need it. WWP is advocating for improvements that will reduce barriers for veterans and their families. This includes supporting legislation to enhance community-based care options and allow veterans to access local providers through programs like the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care Network when VA facilities are overburdened or too far away.

One reason for care delays is a shortage of providers. WWP is addressing this by supporting initiatives like the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act, which incentivizes clinicians to work in underserved areas. Expanding the pool of qualified providers ensures veterans have timely access to the care they need.

We must also do better when communicating with our warriors about the process and choices available for obtaining care. Veterans need — and deserve — clear, straightforward pathways to care. That means helping them understand all their options, whether VA care, telehealth, or community programs. WWP is helping to advocate for improved communications, but we are also leveraging internal and external networks to help connect warriors to alternative services or resources.

How Does Peer Support Help Improve Mental Health and Promote Healing? 

We know that connection saves lives. During COVID, the U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory about the nation's epidemic of loneliness and isolation. The prevalence of these issues among WWP warriors is a significant concern. According to the last WWP Warrior Survey, more than 70% of our warriors said they lacked companionship, and 68% said they were currently experiencing loneliness. This isolation can exacerbate mental health issues and negatively affect overall well-being.

Social connections play a critical role in improving veterans' well-being, which is why connecting warriors with their peers is a fundamental part of WWP's purpose. Warriors often struggle to build and maintain meaningful relationships and camaraderie after service. Having relationships with others who understand, even though each warrior may have different experiences, can help reduce loneliness and support positive behaviors.

Connection is also essential for warriors' families and loved ones, who may have experiences that people outside the military won't understand.

Through the Alumni Connection Program, WWP offers thousands of no-cost social connection events, from educational to recreational. Past events have included a female veteran self-defense class, a daddy-daughter tea party, monthly family-style dinners, and outings to local sporting events. Peer support groups, which create safe spaces for veterans to connect, share their experiences, and learn from one another, are also available both in-person and online. A beneficial outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic was using technology to host online activities, which allowed WWP to create virtual communities to more easily connect those in remote areas or overseas.

How Does WWP's Advocacy and Collaboration with Other Veterans Organizations Extend Its Reach?

We recognize that while technology and innovation are critical, no one organization can do it all. Creating systemic change requires collaboration with other veteran service organizations. WWP works closely with policymakers to ensure they hear veterans' voices as they consider legislation affecting veterans and their families. WWP brings veterans to meet with members of Congress at least annually.

Lately, one key area of focus for WWP has been expanding funding for programs like the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. This initiative empowers local organizations to implement community-based suicide prevention strategies. By supporting grassroots efforts like this, WWP ensures that help reaches veterans where they live.

WWP recognizes that we can't do everything. So, we are committed to collaborating with other organizations. This helps WWP expand the support and resources provided to warriors to ensure they have access to necessary health care and can overcome barriers such as lack of transportation.

Additionally, WWP collaborates with other nonprofits and academic institutions to share best practices and drive new research.

Any Last Words of Wisdom for Warriors?

It is often difficult to acknowledge the need for mental health support, but we need to applaud veterans for taking that first step in their journey. Mental health care isn't just about treating illness; it's about helping people rediscover their purpose and thrive. WWP is committed to helping every warrior feel empowered to get the support they need to find a better tomorrow.

While the road ahead is challenging, there are reasons to be optimistic. Advances in technology, research that gives us a deeper understanding of veterans' needs, and collaboration with world-renowned organizations are creating new opportunities to achieve better outcomes in mental health care.

It's important to me that every warrior and every family member know, "You are not alone." The future is bright, and organizations like WWP work tirelessly to keep the promise that no one is left behind.

If you or a loved one is struggling, visit Wounded Warrior Project's website to learn more about available resources and programs.

Contact: Cynthia Weiss – Public Relations, cweiss@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.738.2589

About Wounded Warrior Project

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.